Dinner with the Boss by Briley

Dinner with the Boss by Briley - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

My mom has been a Mary Kay consultant for over twenty-five years now and I can’t fathom what my life would now be like without the influence of the company. When I turned eighteen, it was a no-brainer for me to sign on as a consultant, because I wanted the same influence that had indirectly influenced me to more directly influence me. She may not be considered a historical figure, but I want to have dinner with Mary Kay Ash to talk to her about the impact she has made on my life today.
Mary Kay Ash was a forward thinker. She believed that what you put your mind to you could achieve and having a goal with a thought out plan was the key to success. The positive attitude she instilled into her company is what I have learned to put into my endeavors but most importantly in achieving large goals that some haven’t been able to do at my age. For example, last fall, I received a letter from People to People about a trip to central Europe in the summer of 2015. Due to my family’s financial situation, I would have to raise the entire amount of tuition for the program on my own. I managed raise all but $5,000 two days before my trip left. In order to be able to go, I would have to raise the rest of the tuition, over $2,000, in one day. I could have sat down and cried, screamed, and given up. Like Mary Kay Ash did after her husband died, I realized this wasn’t what was going to put me on that plane. I formulated a plan to raise the $2,000 in that one day and truly realized the benefit of a positive mindset.
Not only does Mary Kay Ash and her company hold positive thinking in high esteem, Mary Kay Ash started the mantra of faith first, family second, career third. In this day and age, the fact that the company still believes in this idea is revolutionary. My faith is very important to me; I want to continue to build the relationship I have with the Lord throughout my life. With the amount of distractions and idols vying for my attention during college, it is especially important that I focus on our relationship so as not to lose sight on Jesus. Working for a company that promotes faith gives me another positive reinforcement to put my focus on my faith.
At this dinner with Mary Kay Ash, I would ask her where she learned to dream so much, think so positively, and how she kept her faith strong as she developed a new company. To be able to pick her brain for ideas on how to grow not only my business as a consultant, but also how to stay in a strong relationship with Christ and how to be a good woman all around. I would also like to ask her what she thinks of how the company has grown and what all consultants can do to improve the company and its reach. At the end of the dinner, I will take the time to thank her for the affect she has had on me and my family.